Biomimicry is an innovative, random matrix, coastal restoration system that harvests sand from storm winds. Safe Harbor Environmental developed this minimal profile system during a Barrier Dune restoration in Truro, Cape Cod, following 5 failures at the toe of the dune. The broken Dune had over washed into a fresh water marsh for 19 yrs. Safe Harbor’s restoration systems collected 22-24 vertical feet of new sand In 26 months. The cross section profile of the restored Barrier Dune was 600 square feet.

“Biomimicry” refers to our minimal profile, random matrix, coastal restoration system. Biomimicry mimics the ‘performance” of native coastal vegetation to stabilize and collect wind blown sand. Biomimicry uses 14 inch long, narrow Cedar shims which are randomly, inserted several inches into the sand, spaced from 10-14 inches apart, in a 4-6 foot wide random matrix along the upper beach. This matrix stabilizes existing sand while collecting new sand from ocean storms. As sand levels rise, the shims are pulled up higher, to continue collecting. Additional shims can be added to widen the profile. How the shims are adjusted controls the profile of the sand collection platform. As elevations increase, Beach grass can be planted side by side with Biomimicry.

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Beginning on September 27, 2014, the Town of Provincetown began a program to identify coastal risk and explore resilient response alternatives. Provincetown is the newest land (sand) on the planet, with a completely unique coastal process.Over the past few thousand years, as rising sea level eroded post-glacial Cape Cod, Provincetown was created. We have put together [...]

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OCEAN 26, our summer 2014 issue is on the loose. This is your newsletter, please share your copy where you feel it can be useful. Thank you, Gordon Peabody, Editor; Nadia Bricault, Associate Editor, OCEAN26 OCEAN Researchers view the UK as a Canary in the Climate Change coal mine. Last winter they were [...]

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OCEAN25 has just been published. Download your own copy by clicking on this link. This is our Research and Environmental Awards Issue. This beautiful image by Deirdre Robinson illustrates an article linking broad impacts from pesticides on insects and people. No related posts.